Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to revise the Basic Policy on Energy Conservation for Buildings next year; presented draft proposal for mandatory compliance
On 8th August, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) presented the proposed revision on “Basic Policy on the Improvement of Energy Consumption Performance of Buildings” based on the revised Energy Conservation Act for Buildings at the Building Environment Subcommittee of the Panel on Infrastructure Development(an advisory body of MLIT). MLIT will comprehensively review the contents of basic policy taking into account the mandatory compliance with energy conservation standards for all housing and buildings by FY 2025. The MLIT will promulgate the basic policy this autumn and scheduled to be effective on next April.
Regarding the newly built detached house, the goals include installing solar panels in 60% of all houses by 2030 and ensuring the energy conservation performance meets ZEH/ZEB (Zero Energy House/Building) standards from that year onwards.The basic policy newly incorporated the items related to the “System for promoting utilization area of building renewable energy” established to encourage the introduction of renewable energy on a municipal basis. The system can be utilized by the municipalities that prepares the “promotion plan” based on the requirements in the revised building energy conservation act.
In the promotion area, installation of renewble energy sources will be permitted even if height limit and building coverage ratio exceed those specified in the Building Standards Act as long as the special requirements are met. The MLIT will release the guidelines for creating the promotion plan in September.